Process of galvanoplasty.



B. BART. PROCESS OF GALVANOPLASTY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 31,!9Ifi. RENEWED JUNE 119x3- Paten ed Mm: $1919.

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BLASIUS BART, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNGR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO DYMALKON METALS CORPORATEQQT, 0F CRDTON-DN HUDSON, NEW" YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF GALVANOPLASTY.

Application filed March 31, 1916, Serial No. 88,166.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnnsros BART, a citi zen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Galvanoplasty; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new process of -galvanoplastywhich makes it possible to obtain by means of electrochemical steps copies in all sizes, reproducing every feature and detail of the model. The copies can be made entirely in one piece having a uniform thickness, and they can be made with. the same facility, whether they are in relief or hollow pieces.

The advantages of this process over the iprocesses generally used are: It elii'ninatcs also in the deepest places. the reproduction of the finest details at minimum labor, as well as an expenditure of a much shorter time in the electrolytical bath. and eliminates all customary preparations of the shape, like drying up, impregnation, graphiting, soldering, etc.

Besides, this process makes it possible to make copies with the same facility from positive or negative shapes in one piece, Whether the shapes are made in one piece or in several parts, and all the materials used for the preparation of thoshapo can be used repeatedly.

The accompanying drawings give oxampies andillustraiions for the execution oi" Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar, 4, 191%), Renewed June 3, 1918. Serial No. 238,035.

through a model having a shape formed thereon and a non-conductive backing up plied to said shape,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the reassembled parts of a shape of a more complicated model showing supplemental layers of non-conductive material including a reinforcing material therebctween,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one form of reinforcing frame,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the sup porting structure for a plate including the reinforcing frame and insulating material,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a section or a relief, and

Figs. (3 and 7 are sectional views through a shape with the nonconductive hacking applied thereto, showing the positive and negative applications of this process.

The essential features of this process are, the formation of a matrix on a model to .reproduce each detail. and of any size, to form this matrix entirely of a metallic substance of high electrical conductivity to receive the elcqdrolytical deposits and to apply a nonconductive covering for parts of the matrix on which no electrolytical deposits are to he had.

Referring to the drawing in which the several steps used in this process are shown, ll) indicates a pattern which may be made ol metal, wood. plaster. wax or gclatii'i or the like and on this pattern a matrix 11 is made by means of vaporizing or impinging a metallic vapor on the whole surface of said metal. This is accomplished by means of a sprayer or atomizer, taking care that the metallic matrix obtained shall have sulhcient thickness.

Whether the metallic matrix shall he made in only one or in several pieces depends upon the formation and substance of the model. in. order that the metallic matrix when finished can be taken from the model. Electrical terminal wires 12 are included in and become parts of the matrix in its formation, byspraying the metal over the ends of these wires.

When the shape is made in more than one piece, it is possible to fit the sections togather as shown along lines 13 so that the then covered on all The metallic composition which is used to cover the Surface of the model must possess the following qualities: It must not be fragile, it must have a low melting point and must have a high conductivity for the electrical current and such an alloy can be obtained by combining tin, lead, mercury, bismuth'or cadmium.

The in :allic matrix thusly prepared is parts where the electrolytical deposit is not needed, with an insulating material 14 which .is not conductive for the electrical current.' Such materials, for my purposes, are asphalt, ceresin, etc, which material can be mixed, according to its nature and purity with turpentine. or some other material, in order that the same may be sufliciently plastic and adhere well to the metallic matrix.

When the shape exceeds certain dimension, it becomes necessary to reinforce the matrix with its insulating covering and for such roportions as may be slightly reinforced: the insulating material is further covered with a stiffening substance 15, such as plaster, sulfur, or a combination of the two. As further support is necessary, braces, rods, or strips 17 may be embedded in the plastic covering 15. \Vhen the reinforcing elements are used, they are covered with an insulating material 16 to prevent direct contact between the solid material and the liquid of the bath to thereby avoid harmful chemical decomposition of these materials.

The electrolytical deposit can be had on the inner face as shown in Fig. 7, in which case the shape presents generally a negative form. or on the outside as shown in Fig. 6, when the shape presents generally a positive form.

In each case, the insulating material 14 applied on the metallic matrix, be it by vaporization, by application of brushes, by pouring or pasting, and has two effects. to insulate the necessary surface and to hold together the various parts at. the joining lines to give to the whole a certain solidity.

The metallic surface o:tthe shape thus prepared is now washed, cleaned and the shape is then suspemled in the bath by means of the attached wires 12.

As the metallic surface is a good conductor of electrical current, the clectrolyticai deposit is obtained on all that they can have a certain solidity, it must.

parts of the sun face rapidly and uniformly and forms a very homogeneous coat.

After having obtained suflicicnt.electrolytical deposits on the surface of the shape, it is taken out of the bath. The insulating coat is now removed either by breaking it off by hand, or by melting. Next, the braces and supports are taken oil, as well as the envelop made of the solid material so that only the metallic matrix remains with the electrolytical deposit which is upon it.

In regard to the metalliccoat, this can re main under the electrolytical deposit, or it can be removed by melting the same. This is not difficult to do, stance has a very low meltin point.

A fter the shape is remove and one ('01:. after another'has been taken off, there 2' mains the electrolytical deposit in one en piece, which forms a very exact co y of i a model presenting all fineness, an this posit has a uniform thickness throughout Having fully described my inven an. what I claim to be new and desire lot-ii by Letters Patent is 1. A method of preparing a meta matrix for electro-deposition by spraying; the pattern with a metal.

2. A method of preparing a metallic matrix for electro-deposition by spraying the pattern with a metal of low fusibility.

3. A method of preparing a metallic matrix for electro-deposition by spraying the pattern with metal and coating the portions of the surfaces of the matrix so sprayed and which are not to be subjected to the metallic deposit with a non-conducting material.

l. A method of preparing a metallic matrix for electro-deposition by spraying the pattern with metal and coating the portions of the surfaces of the matrix so sprayed and which are not to be subjected to the metallic deposit with a non-conducting and reinforcing material.

A method of preparing a metallic matrix for electroaleposition by spraying a pattern with metal, placingconducting wires upon the metallic surface so sprayed and uniting said conducting wires and surfaces by further spraying metal thereon.

(5. A method of preparing a metallic matrix forelectrofleposition by spraying the pattern in sections with a metal, removing the matrix so made in sections and reas seinbliug said sections. I

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

BLASIUS BART.

as this metallic sub 

